Kaduna State says its free school feeding programme has become a major factor in increasing enrolment in public schools, with about 40 per cent of pupils attending primarily because of the initiative.

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on the School Feeding Programme, Fauziya Buhari-Ado, made the disclosure after receiving an Award of Excellence in Education Advancement from the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria.

She said the state government introduced the programme alongside free basic education as part of broader reforms aimed at addressing the large population of out-of-school children, especially Almajiri pupils and other vulnerable children.

According to Buhari-Ado, the administration identified education as a priority from the outset and adopted measures designed to improve access to learning while protecting children from the risks associated with life on the streets.

She noted that insecurity and the prevalence of the Almajiri system in parts of northern Nigeria reinforced the need for interventions that would encourage children to enrol and remain in school.

Buhari-Ado said feedback gathered during monitoring visits to schools showed that the school feeding programme had become a strong incentive for enrolment and regular attendance.

She explained that many parents and school administrators had acknowledged that a significant number of pupils would not be in classrooms without the provision of free meals, adding that she had witnessed the programme’s impact firsthand through interactions with beneficiaries and their families.

She attributed the programme’s progress to the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, stating that it had contributed to improved attendance, lower absenteeism and better welfare for schoolchildren across the state.

The aide also highlighted the government’s investments in education infrastructure, teacher support, social protection and other human capital development initiatives, saying they were helping to expand access to quality education and improve learning outcomes.

The Kaduna State Government has prioritised reducing the number of out-of-school children through a combination of free basic education, school feeding, improved infrastructure and support for teachers, with a focus on children from disadvantaged households.

Education experts have consistently identified school feeding as an effective social intervention that encourages enrolment, improves attendance, reduces hunger among pupils and eases the financial burden on low-income families, particularly in northern Nigeria where poverty, insecurity and the Almajiri system continue to affect access to formal education.